Menil unveils plans for long-awaited drawing institute

Updated 2:24 pm, Wednesday, February 19, 2014

A view of the Menil Drawing Institute from the south, by the Los Angeles architectural firm Johnston Marklee

A view of the Menil Drawing Institute from the south, by the Los Angeles architectural firm Johnston Marklee

Photo: Johnston Marklee

Image 2 of 31

Although it's designed to protect extremely delicate works on paper, a rendering of the west-side exterior of the Menil Drawing Institute by the Los Angeles architectural firm Johnston Marklee shows the building's defining features, including a revolutionary roof and abundant natural light in public spaces. less

Although it's designed to protect extremely delicate works on paper, a rendering of the west-side exterior of the Menil Drawing Institute by the Los Angeles architectural firm Johnston Marklee shows the ... more

Photo: Johnston Marklee

Image 3 of 31

The Scholar Courtyard of the Menil Drawing Institute, designed by the Los Angeles architectural firm Johnston Marklee.

The Scholar Courtyard of the Menil Drawing Institute, designed by the Los Angeles architectural firm Johnston Marklee.

Photo: Johnston Marklee

Image 4 of 31

A rendering of the West courtyard of the Menil Drawing Institute, designed by Johnston Marklee, shows the sloping steel plate roof that will extend toward the landscape.

A rendering of the West courtyard of the Menil Drawing Institute, designed by Johnston Marklee, shows the sloping steel plate roof that will extend toward the landscape.

Photo: Johnston Marklee

Image 5 of 31

An interior view of the Menil Drawing Institute, designed by the Los Angeles architectural firm Johnston Marklee; with the light and shadow play, even the ceilings feel like drawings.

An interior view of the Menil Drawing Institute, designed by the Los Angeles architectural firm Johnston Marklee; with the light and shadow play, even the ceilings feel like drawings.

Photo: Johnston Marklee

Image 6 of 31

The west-side elevation of the Menil Drawing Institute by the Los Angeles architectural firm Johnston Marklee shows its "circulation spine," a light-filled central gathering space flanked by light-protected exhibition and study spaces. less

The west-side elevation of the Menil Drawing Institute by the Los Angeles architectural firm Johnston Marklee shows its "circulation spine," a light-filled central gathering space flanked by light-protected ... more

Photo: Johnston Marklee

Image 7 of 31

A site plan for the expansion of the Menil campus to the south shows the location of the new Menil Drawing Institute (lower right) along a newly-extended West Main Street.

A site plan for the expansion of the Menil campus to the south shows the location of the new Menil Drawing Institute (lower right) along a newly-extended West Main Street.

Photo: Johnston Marklee

Image 8 of 31

Menil Park is a favorite spot to chill on a beautiful weekend morning or afternoon. Keep clicking for more photos from this popular hangout.

Menil Park is a favorite spot to chill on a beautiful weekend morning or afternoon. Keep clicking for more photos from this popular hangout.

Photo: Jay Dryden

Image 9 of 31

Photo: Jay Dryden

Image 10 of 31

Photo: Jay Dryden

Image 11 of 31

Photo: Jay Dryden

Image 12 of 31

Photo: Jay Dryden

Image 13 of 31

Photo: Jay Dryden

Image 14 of 31

Photo: Jay Dryden

Image 15 of 31

Photo: Jay Dryden

Image 16 of 31

Photo: Jay Dryden

Image 17 of 31

Photo: Jay Dryden

Image 18 of 31

Photo: Jay Dryden

Image 19 of 31

Photo: Jay Dryden

Image 20 of 31

Photo: Jay Dryden

Image 21 of 31

Photo: Jay Dryden

Image 22 of 31

Photo: Jay Dryden

Image 23 of 31

Photo: Jay Dryden

Image 24 of 31

Photo: Jay Dryden

Image 25 of 31

Photo: Jay Dryden

Image 26 of 31

Photo: Jay Dryden

Image 27 of 31

Photo: Jay Dryden

Image 28 of 31

Photo: Jay Dryden

Image 29 of 31

Photo: Jay Dryden

Image 30 of 31

Photo: Jay Dryden

Image 31 of 31

Menil unveils plans for long-awaited drawing institute

1 / 31

Back to Gallery

The Menil Collection unveiled plans Wednesday for its long-awaited drawing institute, the first freestanding facility in the U.S. devoted to the exhibit, study, storage and conservation of artworks on paper.

The design for the $40 million Menil Drawing Institute by the Los Angeles architecture firm Johnston Marklee will feature a revolutionary roof of thin steel plate that solves two seemingly polar design objectives: protecting art that is extremely light-sensitive and creating an inviting, airy space visitors will enjoy.

The roof also resembles a piece of folded paper and appears to be a drawing when nearby trees cast their shadows on it.

Modestly scaled, the building will top out at 16 feet, no taller than the neighboring gray bungalows on the 30-acre campus. Half of its 30,150 square feet will be for underground storage, while the ground level will contain a large, flexible central living room, about 3,000 square feet of exhibit space, a scholar's cloister, rooms for seminars and other events, and a conservation lab.

"It's very respectful of the environment and yet it really opens up the campus into a new phase," Menil director Josef Helfenstein said.

Related Stories

The institute is so far the biggest jewel in a major expansion initiated in 2009, when the Menil adopted a master site plan by London's David Chipperfield Architects.

Johnston Marklee is also designing a new energy control center for the campus. Houston's Stern and Bucek is designing the soon-to-be-built Bistro Menil. The East Coast's Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates is transforming the campus' Alabama Street entry and creating a more sustainable landscape.

All the projects - plus a drive to raise endowment funds - total $110 million. "We're in good shape with the fund raising. We wouldn't go public with the announcement if we weren't," Helfenstein said.

A portion of the 490-unit, Menil-owned Richmont Square Apartments will be demolished to make way for the institute, and West Main Street will be extended. Construction is slated to begin in early 2015.

The architects considered the project a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. "We've seldom had a project where the content of a building was discussed in such detail," Lee said.